Earthquakes

AP - Powerful earthquake hits central Mexico, collapses buildings
AP reports: "A magnitude 7.1 earthquake jolted central Mexico on Tuesday, collapsing some buildings, cracking the facades of others and scattering rubble on streets on the anniversary of a devastating 1985 quake. The quake caused buildings to sway sickeningly in Mexico City and sent panicked office workers streaming into the streets, but the full extent of the damage was not yet clear. Mexican media broadcast images of several collapsed buildings in heavily populated parts of the city. The U.S. Geological Survey calculated its magnitude at 7.1 and said it was centered near the Puebla state town of Raboso, about 76 miles (123 kilometers) southeast of Mexico City."

Comment: A magnitude 7.1 quake is a powerful earthquake, it's a good thing it did not directly strike Mexico City, the loss of life would have been great.  

Wars & Rumors of War

U.S., South Korea conduct bombing drills to warn North - UPI.com:
UPI reports: "The United States and South Korea conducted joint drills over South Korean airspace on Monday afternoon, weeks after North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test and the United Nations Security Council adopted sanctions curtailing oil exports to the country. The United States deployed four F-35B jets and two supersonic B-1B bombers, and jointly trained with four F-15K bombers of the South Korean air force, South Korean news service Newsis reported. The aircraft conducted mock-bombing training exercises over a training ground in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province in central South Korea."

Comment: Nothing like a practice bombing raid to send a strong signal.  Anyone listening?

War

Manhunt on after London subway terror attack; threat level at 'critical' - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Police began a manhunt Friday after an explosion rocked a crowded London subway car in what officials say was a terror attack during the morning rush hour. The blast occurred as a train left Parsons Green station and caused a fire that swept through the subway car. Authorities are investigating the event as a terrorist-related attack, London Metropolitan Police said. Government officials raised the terror threat level in England from 'severe' to 'critical,' which means an attack is 'expected imminently.'"

Comment: I was going to post this under the "Wars" and "Rumors of War" tags but really, there's no rumor here, is there?  The Islamic State has already claimed credit for the subway attack. There may be some who doubt that IS had a hand in planning or carrying out the attack and certainly the ongoing investigation will look into that, but even if they just inspired this, even if it was a lone wolf activated by IS propaganda, isn't that still an act of war?

Rumors of War - King of the North

Russia war games ignite concern among nearby NATO nations - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Russia launched its week-long military exercises in Belarus on Thursday, with nearly 13,000 troops massing near the borders of several NATO countries. The Atlantic alliance is concerned the triennial exercises could be a rehearsal for real military action, or a ruse of war. Last conducted in 2014, the "Zapad," or "western" exercises, were followed months later by a war in Ukraine's eastern provinces. [...] NATO has also stepped up its security, deploying 4,300 troops to Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and has increased flyover policing in those countries."

Comment: It's all fun and war games until Ukraine loses an eye. I have to admit to a certain admiration for what Putin has accomplished. Most of the world moved on from the Cold War and we are all pretty much into a 21st Century mindset but not Putin, he is still a Cold Warrior at heart. I can't deny a ruler wanting to make their country great again and restore the glory of faded empire. That's a story as old as time, well, as old as recorded history. Putin does have something going for him, a good argument and a basis for resentment. After the Cold War ended, the West did not follow Churchill's famous dictum and failed to offer magnanimity after our victory. We promised a "Europe whole and free" while extending the NATO alliance to Russia's borders and interfering in domestic affairs to a degree that most Americans would find objectionable if another country did the same. I'm convinced that's why Putin interfered with our presidential election. Goose and gander as they say. Still, there is no denying the cold reality that a war over territory has once again returned to the heart of Europe. Ukraine will never be the same. I'm not sure what it will take for Europe or the U.S. to fully update mental images of Russia and make the appropriate adjustments. A mental adjustment is needed. Just look at our U.S. domestic politics where the usually national security focused party - the Republicans - seem entirely unconcerned that Russia interfered in our presidential election. In another time, Russia's actions would have been seen as a grave threat to national security if not an act of war. Now, not so much. Psychology and PR are very strange things. It's clear Putin is a master strategist and is playing on multiple levels. I can only hope those making strategic choices in Europe and the U.S. are up for the challenge. The Great Game can be fun for those playing at the top, but for those below, it remains a very deadly game.

Rumors of War

North Korea fires ballistic missile, South Korea, Japan say - UPI.com
UPI reports: "North Korea fired an ballistic missile from its capital city of Pyongyang, South Korean and Japanese officials said Friday. Reports of the fired missile prompted Japan to warn residents to take shelter, BBC News reported. 'North Korea fired an unidentified missile from near Sunan, Pyongyang, around 6:57 a.m. which flew over Japan to the North Pacific,' the South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff said."

Comment: Do you think Kim felt neglected? After all, we've been focused on hurricanes and domestic politics and he kind of fell off the radar. Maybe another missile launch will help get him back into the headlines? I wonder if has a PR firm helping him out? Seriously though, what makes this provocative is not that he is firing missiles into the open ocean but that they are going over Japan. One slight miscalculation and many people could be killed in Japan. It's becoming increasingly difficult to imagine that all of this ends with anything other than a military conflict.

Wickedness Increases

Student killed in shooting at Spokane-area high school - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A student was killed Wednesday in a shooting at a high school south of Spokane, Wash., as five others were injured. A suspect has been detained. Police responded to the shooting around 10:30 a.m. at Freeman High School in Rockford, 20 miles south of Spokane, the Spokesman-Review reported. Spokane Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said the suspect was in custody after 'the threat from the shooter has been eliminated,' according to a KREM-TV report."

Comment: I suppose that the most recent generation who have grown up with school shootings can be excused for accepting them as normal but I don't think I'll ever really accept them as "just one of those things." That kids are killed by other kids in schools seems so far outside the bounds of what reality should be that I just have no words for it. And yet, it's part of the "new normal" and this story will be unlikely to stay in the headlines beyond one or two days before being overtaken by some new sensational headline. Perilous times indeed!

Gog Alliance - King of the North

Turkey to purchase S-400 surface-to-air missiles from Russia - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Turkey has signed an agreement with Russia for the purchase of S-400 long-range surface-to-air missiles, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced. Erdogan has complained that Western weapons were too expensive and has been seeking alternatives. [...] The purchase is part of increased military and political ties between Turkey and Russia and gradual estrangement between the key NATO member and Western powers. Turkey has the second largest army in NATO, and members of the alliance are encouraged to buy compatible weapons systems to help coordination and logistics during wartime."

Comment: This is a shock! Who saw this coming? Oh wait, every student of Bible prophecy saw this coming...for decades. It's time to admit that Turkey's drift away from the West and into Russia's alliance of the Unhappy and Disgruntled is less a drift and more like a beeline.  It's time for Togarmah to join the Gog Alliance. Perhaps NATO could give Turkey a nudge?

War

Five U.S. troops wounded in Afghanistan on 9/11 anniversary - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Five U.S. troops were wounded in an apparent suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan Monday, the 16th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that propelled the United States into a war still raging today. The suicide bomber drove a car bomb into an armored convoy near the Bagram Air Base in northern Afghanistan, officials told Fox News. The attack affected the NATO-led coalition, Operation Resolute Support, and at least one more troop from an undisclosed country was wounded in the bombing, as well. [...] More than 2,400 U.S. troops have been killed Afghanistan since President George W. Bush launched a war there in 2001. Estimates vary regarding the financial cost of the war in Afghanistan, but they range between $841 billion and $2 trillion. In August, President Donald Trump announced he would increase U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan."

Comment:  It was a somber 9/11 anniversary all around. Praying that the security services will continue to be vigilant against potential attacks and that the weapons of the enemy will be turned back against them.

Roaring Seas & Waves

Deadly Hurricane Irma leaves 2M without power - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Hurricane Irma has caused at least one death and left 2 million people in Florida without electricity Sunday morning after the storm made landfall in the Keys. The storm reached Cudjoe Key in the lower Florida Keys at 9:10 a.m., the National Hurricane Center said. The storm was skirting the state's west coast and was forecast to make another landfall near Fort Myers and Naples on Sunday evening."

Comment: Praying for Florida and all those in the path of the storm.

Roaring Sea and Waves

What is storm surge and why is it so dangerous? - Yahoo News
AFP reports: "The biggest threat to human life during a hurricane is often the storm surge, which occurs when sea level rises dramatically during a storm, sending a wall of water gushing over land. Forecasters warn that the storm surge from Hurricane Irma could reach 15 feet (4.5 meters) along parts of the Florida coast in the coming hours. [...] Rising seas and warming oceans due to climate change are also expected to amplify the effects of storm surge in the coming decades. Numerous studies have predicted that storm surges will become more frequent and deadly as the planet warms."

Comment: In my opinion the increasing major storms and damage they cause are in line with Bible prophecy (Luke 21:25). I know many people are skeptical about climate change because they believe it's a reflection of an underlying political agenda among climate activists, but I think they miss the bigger picture. Does it really matter if climate change is caused by human activity or is part of the natural climate cycle or some combination of the two? It's happening even as people argue about it.

Earthquakes

Death toll increases after Mexico's strongest earthquake in a century - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Dozens of people are dead in Mexico after the most powerful earthquake to hit the country in 100 years, officials said Friday. [...] The quake was strong enough to be felt in Mexico City, 630 miles to the northwest. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the magnitude at 8.1, but other institutions rated it between 8.2 and 8.4. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said in a news conference Friday that the earthquake was the strongest to hit the nation in a century -- and that 50 million Mexicans felt shaking."

Comment: I'm struck by the historic nature of many of the events we are witnessing. Headlines tells us that the hurricane storms in the Atlantic are the strongest ever recorded in the region and now here is a report telling us that this earthquake in Mexico was the most powerful in a century.  It's almost like we should be paying attention to this.

Signs in the Sun

Grab eclipse glasses: Large sunspots visible, produce solar flares - UPI.com
UPI reports: "We're heading into the bottom of solar minimum, when the sun tends to have fewer sunspots, solar flares and coronal mass ejections - large expulsions of plasma, electrons and ions and magnetic fields. But despite where we are in the sun's cycle, activity on the sun has dramatically picked up over the past few days. On and off, these two sunspots have been flaring and shooting out coronal mass ejections, directed toward Earth. [...] We don't need to worry about this coronal mass ejection being 'the big one' - a solar storm direct hit that could cause widespread power blackouts and trigger as much as $2 trillion worth of damage, according to a National Academy of Sciences study. But this storm, on the back of this month's abnormally active space weather, may wind up on the larger end of the scale, and will be the subject of lots of analysis and research."

Comment: Did you keep your eclipse glasses? 

Pestilence

Yemen's Cholera Epidemic Hits 600,000, Confounding Expectations - Scientific American Scientific American reports: "Yemen’s cholera outbreak has infected 612,703 people and killed 2,048 since it began in April, and some districts are still reporting sharp rises in new cases, data from the World Health Organization and Yemen’s health ministry showed on Tuesday. The overall spread of the epidemic has slowed in the past two months, with the daily number of new suspected cases cut to around 3,000 in recent days. However the epidemic, the most explosive on record in terms of its rapid spread, has continually confounded expectations."

Comment: Really starting to see a spike in Luke 21:11 signs. This cholera outbreak in Yemen has not been as widely reported as it should be, perhaps because it's mostly due to war and not a natural outbreak. 

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

China’s top diplomat says he approves further North Korea sanctions - UPI.com
UPI reports: "China's top diplomat said Thursday he agrees additional sanctions need to be imposed on North Korea, following the country's sixth nuclear test Sunday. Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the statement during a joint press conference in Beijing with Nepal's Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara -- a sign China could be willing to cooperate on further sanctions. [...] The United States is circulating a draft resolution at the Security Council, that would allow U.S. Navy and Air Force ships to stop and search North Korean vessels in international waters, The New York Times reported. Military interdictions at sea, however, could raise tensions not seen since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, when President John F. Kennedy ordered a blockade of the island, according to the report."

Radiation levels up in China after North Korea nuclear test - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Radiation levels are rising in areas of China close to the North Korean border. But at least one Chinese analyst says it is too early to tell whether the changes are a result of North Korea's sixth nuclear test Sunday, the South China Morning Post reported."

Comment: It doesn't matter how allied China and North Korea may be, nor does it matter how China considers the North a strategic buffer, the radiation in the wind and the water simply doesn't care about such things. China has much to lose from a reckless nuclear neighbor.

Wars & Rumors of War

Japan politicians consider tactical nukes, dialogue with North Korea - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Discussions of deploying U.S. tactical nuclear weapons are growing in Japan, where concern is mounting that North Korea's recent nuclear test and missile provocations could ultimately culminate in an attack on Japanese soil."

Comment: We have entered into the strange logic of an arms race where both sides see the defensive moves of the other as escalatory.

Wars & Rumors of War

Experts: North Korea exploded 100-kiloton bomb, risking disaster - UPI.com
UPI reports: "North Korea's sixth nuclear test may have involved a bomb that released the same energy as 108 kilotons of TNT, according to a team of Chinese scientists. But Japan's defense ministry said the bomb could have unleashed as much as 120 kilotons. [...] Nuclear experts said the explosion on Sunday was four to 16 times more powerful than Hiroshima, and North Korea may be in the process of developing a hydrogen bomb."

U.S. Pacific Fleet, South Korea army prep 'military response' plan - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and South Korea's defense minister said they agreed to prepare a 'practical military response plan' to what Adm. Scott Swift described as Pyongyang's 'self-destructive' acts, following the country's sixth nuclear test. Swift, who oversees 200 ships and submarines, 1,180 aircraft and more than 140,000 sailors, also said the U.S. Navy plans to deploy strategic assets, including a carrier strike group, to the peninsula, Yonhap reported. "

Comment: I miss the "good-old-days" when you go could away for a holiday weekend and not worry about missing something important...like a hydrogen bomb test.

Signs in the Heavens

Watch massive asteroid fly safely by Earth - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Early Friday morning, Florence -- the largest near Earth asteroid yet discovered and tracked by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory -- will pass within 4,390,892 miles of Earth, approximately 18 times the distance between the Earth and the moon. [...] The asteroid, named for war nurse Florence Nightingale, measures between 2.5 and 5.6 miles wide --scientists will have a more accurate estimate after the flyby. Anything larger than a half mile in diameter is capable of doing catastrophic damage should it collide with Earth."

Comment: That should be interesting, glad that spotted it. Last I heard the NASA office that monitors near-Earth asteroids suffered a budget cut, maybe that has changed? 

War

Pentagon: 2,600 more troops in Afghanistan than previously reported - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The Pentagon acknowledged Wednesday there are about 2,600 more U.S. troops in Afghanistan than it previously reported. Marine Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Jr. said there are about 11,000 troops in Afghanistan, not the 8,400 figure the Department of Defense previously gave. [...] The increased number isn't because more troops have been deployed in recent days, though, and is not reflective of President Donald Trump's authorization of a larger deployment last week. Those reinforcements could reach 3,900 troops."

Comment: So, reading between the lines, it's like they are saying that before sending even more troops they will acknowledge the creative accounting they have been using to  keep up the current numbers in Afghanistan. It doesn't matter, the bottom line remains the same, more American troops will be going to fight in Afghanistan. It seems to me that Trump has decided on a long-term presence, in the same way we did after WWII with Europe and Japan, it would just be nice for him to tell that plainly to the American people.

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

Trump: 'All options are on the table' after latest North Korea missile launch - UPI.com
UPI reports: Following North Korea's missile test that flew over Japan, President Donald Trump said 'all options are on the table' in response to the hermit kingdom's 'threatening and destabilizing actions.' [...] Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spoke on the phone following Pyongyang's missile test. The White House said the 'two leaders agreed that North Korea poses a grave and growing direct threat to the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea, as well as to countries around the word.'"

Comment: I have to admit, I'd hoped that the situation with North Korea had cooled somewhat. There are indications that China is sending signals to the North that it has lost patience and Trump has demonstrated resolve as well as a willingness to engage. At this point in the script, North Korea parlays for concessions and then settles down until the next tantrum. This has been the pattern for a number of years. For some reason, North Korea is not following the usual script. I wonder what has changed?

Peace of Jerusalem - Rumors of War - Persia

Benjamin Netanyahu welcomes U.N. chief Antonio Guterres with criticism - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres with vocal criticism Monday about the way he says his nation is treated by the world body. [...] He said the United Nations has failed to prevent arms from being smuggled to Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah militants, while allowing Iran to build sites in Syria and Lebanon for the manufacture of 'precision-guided missiles.' 'Iran is busy turning Syria into a base of military entrenchment, and it wants to use Syria and Lebanon as warfronts against its declared goal to eradicate Israel,' Netanyahu said. 'This is something Israel cannot accept. This is something the U.N. should not accept.'"

Comment: This is one of those things we see often in history, an example of how the seed of the next war is always present in the ending of the current war.  Iranian militias have been fighting alongside Russian and Syrian forces against the Islamic State and since everyone is fighting the Islamic State, this has not been a problem. Over time, Iran has built up resources including troops, supplies and intelligence networks across the region, from Afghanistan to Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza and of course, Syria. Does anyone seriously believe that after the Islamic State is defeated that Iran will pull back all those resources and withdraw? Israel is stuck in the middle of a war for regional hegemony between Iran and Saudi Arabia and right now, Iran is winning. Israel is letting the world know that this is not acceptable. Is the world listening? 

Roaring Waves - Fearsome Events

CNBC - Houston crippled by catastrophic flood, mass evacuations ordered
CNBC reports: "The historic flooding that Tropical Storm Harvey unleashed on Houston will likely worsen as federal engineers release water from overflowing reservoirs to keep it from jumping dams and surging uncontrollably into the homes they protect, officials said on Monday. Some 30,000 residents of the nation's fourth-largest city were expected to be left temporarily homeless by Harvey, which became the most powerful hurricane to strike Texas in more than 50 years when it came ashore on Friday near Corpus Christi, about 220 miles (354 km) south of Houston. [...] Harvey was expected to remain over the state's Gulf Coast for the next few days, dropping a year's worth of rain in about a week, with threats of flooding extending into neighboring Louisiana."

Comment: Praying for Texas and I'd also like to share this link to a news report about how to donate to the relief effort if you are so moved. 

Rumors of War - War

Man shot, killed while attacking Belgian soldiers - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The Belgian army shot and killed a man who attacked soldiers in Brussels with a knife in what authorities are treating as a terrorist act Friday. Belgium's federal prosecutor said the attacker injured two soldiers, one on the hand, the other on the head. The man attacked the soldiers around 8:20 p.m. near the Sainte Catherine neighborhood in the city center. Witnesses said he yelled 'Allahu Akbar' just prior to the attack."

Comment: This jihadist brought a knife to a gun fight, love when that happens! Akbarians are not terribly bright, are they?

Mark of the Beast

India's Supreme Court rules privacy is a fundamental right - AP
AP reports: "India’s top court ruled Thursday that privacy is a fundamental right of every citizen, in a landmark judgment that could affect the country’s mammoth identity card system. The verdict was in response to many petitions filed in courts questioning the validity of assigning a biometric identity card to every individual. The government has made the identity card mandatory for all citizens to receive welfare benefits, but human rights groups raised concerns about the risk of personal data being misused. [...] Rights activists hailed the verdict as a win for individual freedom."

Comment: This is a win for the people of India but also something of a disappointment. As a test-case for mark-tech India was making remarkable strides in combining biometric identity verification with a broad range of government services. I saw it as a laboratory for seeing what could be done in this area with off-the-shelf technology combined with sheer government coercion and the outcome was looking rather impressive. The currency system of an entire country was being changed almost overnight and millions of undocumented people were being brought into an online system and given digital identities to secure services and payments. It was an impressive accomplishment. All of that is in doubt now. It will be interesting to see how this turns out.

Rumors of War - King of the North

Mattis: U.S. considering sending weapons to Ukraine - UPI.com
UPI reports: "U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis said Thursday the Trump administration is considering supplying weapons to Ukraine after a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Kiev. Mattis said he would return to the United States and advise leaders on what he learned during his visit to Ukraine."

Comment: I'm worried that the dangers of this move are not being carefully considered by the Trump team. It would be as if Russia decided to send arms to a rogue group of Canadians (as if that could ever be a thing). It would be even more apt of the former capital of the U.S. was located in their erstwhile breakaway province. It's not something Americans would likely accept for long without some kind of extreme reaction. While I know that Kievan Russia was a long time ago, the shadow of history is a living presence in that part of the world and our leaders who do well to tread carefully.

Rumors of War

South Korea conducts civil defense drill to prepare for enemy attack - UPI.com
UPI reports: "South Korea conducted some of its most comprehensive civil defense drills in recent memory in preparation for a potential North Korea attack. [...] The exercises designed for civilians began with a siren warning in key parts of the country that would be activated when guided missiles or enemy air raids are detected across the border."

Comment: This was an ambitious civil defense drill and I have to give them credit for at least attempting to get their people ready just in case the unthinkable does happen. I'm not sure it was all that successful it many people didn't even know it was happening, but at least they tried.

Covenant With Many

Jared Kushner leads U.S. delegation for peace talks in Middle East - UPI.com
UPI reports: "White House senior adviser Jared Kushner is part of a delegation that traveled to the Middle East for peace talks, the Trump administration said Tuesday. [...] The traveling delegation met with leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia early this week before heading to Israel on Wednesday. On Thursday, they will meet separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. [...] the talks would 'focus on the path to substantive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, combating extremism, the situation in Gaza, including how to ease the humanitarian crisis there.' Also, the team will examine economic steps ahead of a potential peace deal."

Comment: This is interesting because Mideast peace does not seem to be high on the international agenda right now. Perhaps now is a good time for this, at time when other global issues are the focus of attention, negotiators may have more room to maneuver.

Earthquakes

Earthquake kills 2 on Italy's Ischia island - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A 4.0-magnitude earthquake on the Italian resort island of Ischia killed two people and injured at least 39 others, police said. The earthquake on the island on the Bay of Naples struck on Monday evening, with the most serious damage in the village of Casamicciola. A woman died from falling masonry from a church, and another was found dead in the rubble of her home, The Telegraph reported Tuesday."

War

Donald Trump says US must continue 'longest war in American history' in Afghanistan - UPI.com
UPI reports: "President Donald Trump gave a speech on Monday that detailed his strategy for the U.S. military in the ongoing Afghanistan war. [...] Trump plans to increase troop levels in Afghanistan by approximately 4,000 troops. That's about a 50 percent increase of current levels. There are 8,400 U.S. troops in Afghanistan in an operation to train, advise and assist Afghan security forces."

Comment: This is really surreal. If someone would have told us in 2001 that the war in Afghanistan would last for 17 years (and counting) would anyone have believed it? I was just watching a WWII film and, of course, we know that particular war (a world war) lasted six years. I'm sure that must have felt like a long time to those fighting but yes, only six years. What is the difference? I would say that the difference is that WWII was a total war in which countries were fighting for survival, for their right to exist. We call Afghanistan a war, but it's not a war in that sense. Unlike WWII this war in Afghanistan is a distant war fought by a volunteer force and without any major significant impact on the economy or the culture. For most Americans life goes on as usual, they have no personal connection to the war and are not asked to sacrifice of even care much at all about it.  In that context and in that manner, the U.S. can fight wars that go on for decades without resolution. Is that really the way we want to do it?

Signs in the Sun - Signs in the Moon

Eclipse chasers could form largest mass migration in history - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The best locations to see Monday's total solar eclipse are within a day's drive of more than 200 million Americans -- and the mega event could see one of the largest mass migrations in human history. The eclipse will occur on a sloping stretch of the United States about 70 miles wide and 2,800 miles long. The track beneath the eclipse is known as the 'path of totality,' which includes the states where the phenomenon will be best viewed -- Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina."

Comment: Unfortunately, I don't live anywhere near the path of totality so I'll be watching online or on TV. Those of you going to watch in person, enjoy the event! 

Wars & Rumors of War

3 dead in stabbing attacks in Finland, Germany - UPI.com
UPI reports: "At least three people died Friday and several others were hurt in separate stabbing attacks in Finland and Germany, authorities said. In Finland, police confirmed two deaths and six people injured at two marketplaces near each other in the city center -- the Central Market and Puutori-Market Squares -- on Friday afternoon. Police shot the suspected assailant in the leg and arrested him, state broadcaster YLE reported. [...] Two hours later in Dusseldorf, Germany, a 31-year-old man was killed and a 25-year-old man was seriously wounded in a stabbing attack at a store, police said. Police are searching for one or more suspects."

Death roll rises to 14 in Spain terror attacks - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The death toll from two terrorist attacks in Spain rose to 14 Friday, officials said -- as investigators try and find the driver of a van that plowed into a crowd of people in one of Barcelona's popular tourist districts. In the first attack, in Barcelona's popular Las Ramblas district, a white van hit a crowd of pedestrians in the Catalunya Square, which is a tourist draw. [...] A second attack hours later in the coastal town of Cambrils, located about 70 miles south of Barcelona, was thwarted by Spanish police. Security officers killed five suspects, some of whom were reportedly wearing suicide bomb vests. Before the suspects died, they rammed a vehicle into a crowd and injured several people. One died early Friday, bringing the total civilian death toll to 14."

Police arrest 4 in Spain terror attacks, hunt for van driver - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Spanish police have arrested four people believed to be part of a covert, radical Islamic terrorist cell, but were still engaged in an intense manhunt Friday for the driver connected to a deadly van attack in the heart of Barcelona's tourist district."

Comment:  Like many people I get breaking news alerts on my phone and in a moment that highlighted how surreal this is becoming, I was slow to realize that there had been not one but TWO attacks in Spain and not one but TWO stabbing attacks in TWO different countries. Perilous times indeed.

Pestilence

FDA allows new tools for testing of Zika virus - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has made available a panel of human plasma samples to aid in the regulatory evaluation of serological tests for Zika. In 2017, there were 203 cases of symptomatic Zika virus reported in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.. The FDA's sample panel is comprised of plasma samples from anonymous patients infected with the Zika virus, West Nile virus, or dengue virus. [...] The use of the same serological panel can help public health professionals compare the effectiveness of different Zika virus tests."

Wars & Rumors of War

13 killed in Barcelona terror attack as van plows into crowd - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Police said a van struck and killed at least 13 people and injured about 80 others, 12 seriously, Thursday in Barcelona's Las Ramblas tourist district in an act of terror. The vehicle, a white van, hit a crowd of pedestrians in the city's Catalunya Square, which is a tourist draw. Witnesses said it jumped the curb and crashed into numerous people. The driver fled on foot, police said. [...] A social media account affiliated with the Islamic State said the attackers were their 'soldiers,' though they offered no proof of the attackers' affiliations or their identities."

Comment: Barcelona has joined the growing list of European cities hit by Islamic State terrorists. I'm sure the security forces will be able to establish conclusively in the coming days if this was indeed the work of IS terrorists. There are other possibilities to consider, it could be Basque separatists, for example, although I'd been under the impression that particular conflict had settled down.

War

Iraqi jets bomb Islamic State stronghold ahead of ground assault - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Iraqi warplanes bombed Tal Afar -- the Islamic State's last stronghold in northern Iraq -- in preparation for a ground assault, defense officials said. The bombardment has intensified in the past several days, targeting IS headquarters, tunnels and armories. Last month, a senior Iraqi commander and former Tal Afar mayor said that between 1,500 and 2,000 militants and their families remain in the city."

Comment: Meanwhile, in Iraq, the battle against the Islamic Statue continues. Way to go Iran...I mean Iraq (oblique reference to how Iran is secretly taking over Iraq).

Persecution

Report: North Korea continues to punish religious practice - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The North Korean government continued to punish those engaging in religious practices last year, with executions, torture and other abuse, the U.S. State Department said in an annual report Tuesday."

Comment: Please join me in praying for persecuted Christians in North Korea. 

Pestilence

Fleas test positive for plague in two Arizona counties - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Health officials are reporting that fleas in Navajo and Coconino counties in Arizona have tested positive for the plague, and are urging residents to take precaution. The plague is known for killing millions of people in Europe during the Middle Ages, but outbreaks of the plague occasionally happen in the southwestern United States during cooler summers following wet winters, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts now say fleas in the counties have tested positive for the disease and are advising residents to take extra care of their pets and be careful around animals because the disease can easily be transmitted to humans."

Comment: That certainly adds extra urgency to getting the right flea collar for your pets. I was thinking this might be a case of old diseases coming back but a little research shows that it never really went away and for the most part is treatable.  Caution is in order if you live in this part of the country, but no need to panic.

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

Trump speaks with China's Xi Jinping, other leaders on North Korea threats - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The leaders of the United States and China once again called on North Korea on Saturday to stop its provocative actions, which recently have sparked high tensions on the Korean Peninsula, while vowing to cooperate on a peaceful resolution to the North's nuclear issue. After the phone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, the White House said in a statement that the leaders agreed that 'North Korea must stop its provocative and escalatory behavior.'[...] Xi called for a peaceful resolution of North Korea's nuclear ambitions and stressed that peace on the Korean Peninsula is the common interest of China and the U.S."

Comment: Lately I've been considering a possible alternative strategy but it's a rather long game. What would happen if we let Kim have everything he wants? Accept North Korea as a formal nuclear power, have a big ceremony with other international leaders, establish full diplomatic and trade relations and sign a peace treaty ending the Korean War.  Let a new day dawn in North Korea and let them bask in their great victory. Life goes on. The idea is simply that societies that have been cut off from the world and held under extreme oppression tend to lose their bearings when material conditions change for the better. When generations change, expectations change and demands for participation grow. If we let Kim have everything he wants his family will most likely fall from power within one generation. There would probably be an internal power struggle but an all out nuclear war between the U.S. and North Korea would be avoided. I think this strategy has merit and carries the lowest risk of all the near-term strategies that are currently under consideration.

Critics will call this appeasement but it's really hard-headed realism, an understanding that sometimes you can shower your enemy with carrots rather than sticks...if the carrots are poisoned. Prosperity will have the counter-intuitive effect of undermining the legitimacy of the Kim family dynasty when a new generation comes of age and wants more freedom that they are allowed. A peaceful transition is possible in the North but only if we are willing to give this strategy the time it needs to come to fruition.

Rumors of War - Fear for the Future

Bomb shelter sales boosted by North Korea threat - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Businesses across the United States -- and Japan -- are reporting an increase in sales of bomb shelters and other survival items as rhetoric over nuclear weapons ramps up. [...] The bump in U.S. sales this week, though, appears to be coinciding with increased threats between North Korea's military and U.S. President Donald Trump. [...] While some bomb shelters are small -- little larger than panic rooms that can fit in a garage and sell for $10,000 -- others can cost millions and offer luxurious living for years."

Donald Trump: Military 'locked and loaded' for North Korea - UPI.com:
UPI  reports: "President Donald Trump tweeted Friday that U.S. armed forces are 'locked and loaded' in case the North Korean government takes aggressive action -- escalating hostile rhetoric with the regime of Kim Jong Un. 'Military solutions are now fully in place, locked and loaded, should North Korea act unwisely,' Trump stated. 'Hopefully Kim Jong Un will find another path!' Later Friday afternoon, Trump retweeted a post by U.S. Pacific Command that said B-1 bombers on Guam 'stand ready' if called upon."

Comment: Maybe it's time for the government to dust off those old civil defense plans and maybe acquaint the public with what to do in case of an emergency. We all need to be prepared, right, not just Ventura County. Duck and cover!

Persecution

AFP - Rosary in hand, Christians flee Syria's IS-held Raqa
AFP reports: "Thousands of Armenians and Syriac Christians once lived in Raqa, making up around one percent of the city's population, which is predominantly Sunni Arab. Armenians in Syria are the descendants of those who fled mass killings in Anatolia at the peak of World War I, massacres the Armenians see as a genocide, though Turkey rejects the term. When IS seized Raqa in 2014, most of the city's Christians, as well as its Kurdish population, fled.   Under IS rule, Christians face the choice of converting to Islam, paying a sectarian tax called jizya, or fleeing under threat of death."

Comment: Please join me in praying for these Christians as they flee the fighting in Syria.

Rumors of War - War

North Korea expects to have Guam action plan by mid-August - UPI.com
UPI reports: "U.S. President Donald Trump's promise to unleash 'fire and fury' in response to North Korea threats is a 'load of nonsense,' Pyongyang's military said early Thursday, adding that it expects to have a military plan of action against Guam within days. [...] The statement, published by state-run Korean Central News Agency says North Korea is 'about to take' military action near the U.S. territory of Guam and a plan to do so would be finalized by mid-August."

Comment: This is getting a bit surreal. I suppose would get say that bluster begets bluster. The danger of miscalculation is very high.

Earthquakes

Powerful earthquake rocks central China, kills at least 19 - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The U.S. Geological Survey said a strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake rocked central China's mountainous Jiuzhaigou area in the Sichuan Province late Tuesday, killing more than a dozen people. At least 19 people were killed and many others were injured during and after the quake, officials said. The epicenter was located 110 miles north-northwest of the city of Jiangyou at a depth of about 5.5 miles, the USGS said in its reviewed analysis."

Rumors of War - War

AP - Trump warns NKorea of 'fire and fury' as nuke threat worsen
AP reports: "President Donald Trump threatened North Korea 'with fire and fury like the world has never seen' on Tuesday after suggestions the communist country has mastered one of the final hurdles to being able to strike the United States with a nuclear missile. North Korea said it was examining its operational plans for attacking Guam — a U.S. territory about 2,100 miles (3,400 kilometers) away — in order to contain U.S. military activity there. [...] The Trump administration considers North Korea to be America’s greatest national security threat and tensions have steadily escalated this year. [...] For North Korea, having a nuclear-tipped missile that could strike America would be the ultimate guarantee against invasion by its superpower adversary."

Comment: I hope that Trump's threats and bravado combined with the new sanctions and moves by allies will be enough to get North Korea back to the "six-party talks" and on the road to some kind of nuclear agreement.  The idea that the Korean War could resume seems farfetched but that possibility seems more and more likely with each passing day.

Covenant With Many

PA President Mahmoud Abbas, Jordanian King Abdullah II meet in Ramallah - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordanian King Abdullah II, after a meeting Monday in Ramallah, called for U.S. President Donald Trump to endorse a two-state solution. [...] After a February meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said he 'can live with either' a one-state or two-state solution as long as both parties are happy. The U.S. president also asked Israel to 'hold back on settlements' until a peace deal with the Palestinians could be struck."

Comment: Do you remember in history when the great Palestinian King Whatsit united the warring tribes and founded the Palestinian country? His bravery in battle has been celebrated for thousands of years in Palestinian art and culture. Actually, you may  not remember that because it never happened.  It's so strange, all of these decades of conflict over a people and a country that never existed. All because Israel's Arab neighbors decided that they would not repatriate their fellow Arabs after they forcefully rejected the UN mandated creation of TWO states and decided to leave them as pawns to use against Israel. If they rejected the UN plan by force of arms, why do they think it's still on the table? Yet the international community continues to believe that if only Israel would give up more land (and not Jordan, Egypt or Lebanon) to these nice peace-loving Palestinians then all will be well. The Palestinians rule in Gaza right now, is all well in Gaza? Yet more land is the solution. On the other hand, if they do give the Palestinians a state and they continue to fire missiles at Israel (as they do from Gaza) then having defined borders will make it all the easier for Israel to retaliate. Either way, I think the Psalm 83 War is near.

Persecution

AFP - At least 11 killed in 'barbaric' Nigeria church shooting
AFP reports: "At least 11 worshippers were shot dead at a church in southeast Nigeria on Sunday, with authorities suggesting the bloodshed was due to a local feud. [...] At around 6:00 am (0500 GMT) at least one gunman opened fire at Saint Philip's church in Ozubulu, near the city of Onitsha, unleashing terror on the congregation.[...] Attacks on churches are rare in southern Nigeria, where there is a predominantly Christian population. The country's mainly-Muslim north has been gripped by a violent campaign by Boko Haram jihadists, who specialise in targeting religious centres. [...] Hundreds of churches and mosques in Nigeria's north have been attacked since 2009 when Boko Haram began a violent campaign to impose strict Islamic law."

Comment: Please join me in praying for the families and friends of the victims, that they may be comforted in their grief and for the persecuted church in Nigeria.

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

U.N. Security Council passes tough new sanctions on North Korea - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The United Nations Security Council voted Saturday to enact tough new sanctions on North Korea over its continued pursuit of long-range missiles and nuclear weapons. The U.S. delegation succeeded in negotiating the package with China and Russia, the two permanent members of the Security Council most hesitant to impose tougher measures against the Kim regime. A no-vote by either country would have prevented the sanctions from being imposed. In the end, all 15 member-nations of the Security Council voted in favor of the U.S.-authored resolution."

Comment: Breaking news, the Security Council has imposed sanctions on North Korea! Is this the first time they've done this? No. The second time? No. The third? No. Not even close. So why do they think these sanctions will be any more "tough" than previous sanctions? It will be interesting to see how North Korea reacts. I'm guessing another missile test may happen soon.

Wickedness Increases

Michelle Carter woman gets 15 months prison for encouraging boyfriend's suicide - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A judge on Thursday handed down a 15-month prison sentence to a Massachusetts woman convicted of involuntary manslaughter for sending a barrage of text messages that led to her boyfriend's suicide. [...] Carter was 17 when she sent Roy a barrage of text messages and phone calls encouraging him to follow through on threats he had made to kill himself. [...] Investigators uncovered dozens of text messages and phone calls from Carter encouraging Roy to follow through on the action, including telling him to get back in the truck when he had second thoughts."

Comment: She demonstrated depraved indifference to the value of human life. Instead of  seeking help she used her words as weapons. Some are saying 15 months is too lenient but I think it reflects wisdom on the part of the judge. Her boyfriend ultimately killed himself, he is responsible for that act...but not solely responsible. Wickedness increases and love grows cold...so very cold. I think it's a safe bet she will have contact with the criminal justice system again in the future before facing the ultimate Judge.

Rumors of War - King of the North

Donald Trump signs bill toughening sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea - UPI.com UPI reports: "President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law a bill to strengthen sanctions against Russia, North Korea and Iran, a White House signing statement shows. The signing statement indicates Trump expressed reservations about the bill's impact, saying it encroaches on presidential authority and may harm the United States' ability to work with allies on how to deal with Russia."

Comment: While we are far from Cold War-era levels of tension with Russia, it's clear that U.S. - Russian relations are only going in one direction. This raises the prospect that we are only one unfortunate incident away from going back into full Cold War. 

Pestilence

Yemen struggling under weight of cholera epidemic - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Two groups warned this week about the ongoing cholera epidemic in Yemen, reinvigorating calls for international humanitarian aid. The groups said Yemen is battling a slew of other problems that, coupled with the cholera crisis, are taking their toll on the country's vulnerable citizens. The United Nations, in a post Tuesday, said there have been at least 400,000 cholera cases in the country reported in the past few months. The cases have led to nearly 2,000 deaths. [...] The United Nations said the country's continued war, lack of proper sanitation systems, economic struggles and prevalent rates of poverty are worsening the cholera crisis' effects."

Comment: What a mess. I hope the Saudi coalition will quickly wrap up this civil war and restore order, that's really the only hope to contain the outbreak. On the other hand, are they helping to spread the epidemic?

Pestilence

Zika probably not spread through saliva: study - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Scientists have some interesting news about Zika: You're unlikely to get the virus from kissing or sharing utensils with someone. A new study with monkeys suggests that Zika doesn't appear to be transmitted through saliva. [...] Mosquitoes are the main cause of Zika infection in people. After infection, the virus remains in blood and saliva for a few weeks. And it remains in bodily fluids like breast milk for weeks and semen for months, the researchers said. [...] Most people only suffer mild symptoms when infected with Zika, but the virus has been linked to catastrophic birth defects in babies whose mothers were infected during pregnancy."

Comment: This is indeed good news. Thanks and regards to the monkeys who helped in this study.

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

China wants U.S., North Korea to ease tensions, envoy says - UPI.com
UPI reports: "China's ambassador to the United Nations challenged notions Beijing should do more to curb North Korea provocations, while suggesting the joint U.S.-South Korea decision to deploy the missile defense system THAAD is destabilizing the region. Amb. Liu Jieyi told reporters at the United Nations on Monday the decision is up to the United States and North Korea, and not China, to resolve tensions, Yonhap reported."

Comment: Well there you go, it can't be any clearer than that. Hopefully Trump will stop tweeting his disappointment that China isn't doing more to solve the North Korean problem.  China doesn't see it as a problem. They see our defensive measures as the problem.

Rumors of War - Persia

Iran: U.S. Navy again fired warning flares at vessels in Persian Gulf - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier fired warning flares at their vessels in the Persian Gulf. The IRGC Navy said the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and another warship approached an oil and gas platform Friday in the Persian Gulf at about 4 p.m. before dispatching a helicopter and firing the warning flares. It was the second such encounter between the two nations this week. [...] On Tuesday, a U.S. Navy ship fired warning shots at an armed Iranian patrol boat in the Persian Gulf."

Comment: If I'm reading between the lines correctly, this represents a welcome change in the rules of engagement under the Trump Administration. As you will recall, these kinds of encounters have happened often in the past and under the Obama rules the Navy would react defensively, both in procedure and in press release. This latest incident seem to have been staged on purpose, a provocative act by a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier to make a point after the previous incident involving a much smaller Navy ship. Nicely done!

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

South Korea, U.S. conduct drills after North Korea missile launch - UPI.com
UPI reports: "South Korea and the United States conducted another round of combined ballistic missile drills Saturday in a show of firepower against North Korea, their armed forces said. The live-fire exercise held along the east coast involved the South's Hyunmoo-2 and the U.S. Eight Army's Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) [...] the two sides demonstrated their ability to work together to defend South Korea."

Comment: This path will be a blessing to those who make missiles (an arms race always is) but we have yet to see any discussion of alternative solutions to this problem. I noticed that Trump again took to Twitter today to criticize China for failing to constrain the North. I really hope that his advisors explain to him that China values the North as a buffer state and as leverage against the U.S. and has never been all that interested in acting as Trump thinks they should.  We can't have a successful strategy if it is based on flawed assumptions.

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

North Korea test-fires improved ballistic missile - UPI.com
UPI reports: "North Korea launched an improved ballistic missile with intercontinental range late Friday, South Korea's military said, a provocation seen as Pyongyang's answer to Seoul's recent dialogue offer and the international community's move to toughen sanctions. [...] The North's missile launch, the second in less than a month, prompted South Korean President Moon Jae-in to ask U.S. Forces Korea to deploy four additional THAAD interceptor launchers at its new base in Seongju, south of Seoul. [...] North Korea has been seeking to develop a nuclear-tipped ICBM capable of hitting the mainland United States, arguing its nuclear program is aimed at countering Washington's hostile policy against it."

Comment: Does it seem like there is one a month now? At this rate they will have perfected the process and routine of missile launches in short order and if they have miniaturized the bombs enough to fit on a warhead, well, there you go. It seems unlikely that Trump will be able to kick this can down the road to his successor. On the other hand, the military option could be catastrophic. I'm glad he is a master deal-maker because this calls for some finesse.

Rumors of War

AFP - One dead, six wounded in Hamburg supermarket knife attack
AFP reports: "A man born in the United Arab Emirates killed one person with a knife and wounded six others in a supermarket in the German city of Hamburg on Friday, shouting 'Allahu Akbar' before being overpowered by passers-by and arrested, said police. [...] Citing security sources, Berlin newspaper Der Tagesspiegel reported that the 26-year-old perpetrator was known to police as an Islamist. [...] Germany's domestic intelligence service estimates there are about 10,000 radical Islamists in the country, including 1,600 who are considered potentially violent."

Comment: Sleeper cells and lone wolfs, what is Europe to do?  Alexander Akbar!

Rumors of War - Persia

Iran launches satellite-capable rocket into space - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Iran said it successfully launched a rocket capable of carrying a satellite into space, marking what would be a significant step in the nation's domestic space program. [...] The launch does not violate the terms of Iran's deal with the United States and other Western nations to curb its nuclear program, though news Iran has made progress on developing long-range missiles has drawn rebukes from the international community and, if continued, could constitute a violation of the agreement."

Comment: It seems like a rather large omission in the nuclear arms deal to say there's nothing wrong with a country that actively deceived weapons inspectors having a ballistic missile program. 

Temple Mount

Muslims end boycott at Jerusalem holy site after security dropped - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Islamic leaders called on followers to return to a key Old Jerusalem holy site -- known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount -- ending a boycott after Israel removed security measures there Thursday."

Comment:  I'm not sure what to make of this. Is it an example of Netanyahu choosing appeasement or showing responsible leadership and compromising?  No more riots, no intifada, that has to be a good thing, right? Still, didn't it seem like some security measures were warranted after that attack? It's a "holy site" after all, they can't allow attackers to use it as a staging area or holdout. I guess what makes sense in other parts of the world may not apply in Jerusalem.

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

Pentagon: North Korea's missile capability far ahead of schedule - UPI.com
UPI reports: "North Korea may have a reliable intercontinental ballistic missile by next year -- about two years ahead of schedule, a new assessment by the Pentagon says. An analysis by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency accelerates the timeline of Pyongyang's missile capabilities. It says that intercontinental ballistic missiles -- capable of carrying nuclear warheads -- could be ready by 2018."

Comment: It's getting increasingly difficult to imagine an outcome to the North Korean nuclear crisis that does not involve major conflict. The regime has proven to be resistant to economic sanctions. They are shielded by allies like China and Russia, who hold veto power at the UN Security Council and they make sure no further punitive actions will be taken under cover of international consensus.  The only optimistic scenario I can imagine is regime collapse. There is little evidence to indicate that this is on the horizon. Despite being a brutal dictatorship the Kim family has created a cult of personality that retains the devotion (either genuine or coerced) of the people as well as the military and we have seen few hints that revolt or coup is at all likely. Given that, the only option available to the U.S. is either a long game of waiting it out and using covert means to undermine the regime (which presumably has been the play for decades) or direct military intervention. Well, that's not entirely true, there is another option, simply accept North Korea as a nuclear state and seek deterrence in the old fashioned way of assured destruction. This is starting to seem like the most realistic option.

Temple Mount

Reuters - Israel removes Jerusalem metal detectors, Palestinians reject new measures
Reuters reports: "Israel removed metal detectors from entrances to the Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City on Tuesday in favor of CCTV cameras, hoping to calm days of bloodshed, but Palestinians said the modified security measures were still unacceptable. [...] Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the senior Muslim cleric who oversees Al-Aqsa compound both dismissed the new Israeli measures and demanded all of them be removed."

Comment: Well, there you go, the Palestinians will only be satisfied until all security is removed, allowing the site to once again be a staging area for attacks on Israelis. It's hard to imagine that anyone would find that an acceptable position, but of course, millions of Palestinian apologists will find nothing objectionable with that. The gunmen using the holy site as a staging area and refuge are not the problem, Israel trying to protect people, that is the problem. The real question for us is, will Jordan and Turkey welcome Israel's concession on the metal detectors or will they continue to incite the Arab masses with propaganda? Is the flame going out, or is this conflagration just getting started?

Mark of the Beast

Wisconsin company hopes to offer microchip implants to employees - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A Wisconsin company wants to offer surgically implanted microchips for employees to make it easier to buy snacks in the break room. [...] the implanted microchip makes it easier for people to pay for items at work. Instead of looking for coins, cash or a credit card, they would only need to place their hand in front of a scanner and electronically pay for their item. The microchip would have other uses, as well, like serving as an electronic key to open doors and identify the user to login at a computer. [...] Approximately 50 Three Square Market employees have volunteered to have the microchip inserted. Westby said it is not mandatory."

Comment: This seems like a clever way to entice people with the novelty of it while desensitizing them to the extreme privacy threat posed by implanted chip tech. I love that line where the CEO says it's not mandatory and he left off the "yet" part, lol. I would like to think that Americans still retain enough of the independent spirit to ever go along with this kind of monitoring and control.

Temple Mount

AP - The Latest: Israel to remove metal detectors from holy site
The AP reports: "Israel’s security cabinet has decided to remove metal detectors set up at the entrance to a Jerusalem holy site which had angered Muslims. It announced early Tuesday that “sophisticated technology” will be used instead of the devices. It did not elaborate on when the metal detectors would be removed or what would replace them. Israeli media earlier reported high resolution cameras capable of detecting hidden objects would be the alternative. It said Israel would boost forces in the area until the plan is implemented. Earlier Associated Press footage showed heavy machinery and workers heading to the entrance of the site. Israel erected the metal detectors after Arab gunmen killed two policemen from inside the shrine, holy to Muslims and Jews, earlier this month. The move incensed the Muslim world and triggered violence."

Israel to remove metal detectors at Al-Aqsa Mosque - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Israeli will remove metal detectors from a holy site in Jerusalem after days of protest from Muslims who were angered by the Israeli military-protected barriers, the government announced. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet said it agreed to accept the 'the recommendation of all the security bodies to change the inspection with metal detectors to a security inspection based on advanced technologies and other means' at the Al-Aqsa compound, which has been a hot-point of controversy and violence for several days. [...] The metal detectors were installed after three men shot two Jewish Israeli policemen on July 14 near the Lion's Gate."

Comment: It remains to be seen if this is a cave / compromise on Netanyahu's part or if the cameras are a valid replacement that will provide the security they need to prevent future attacks staged from within the compound. It also remains to be seen if this move will de-escalate the tensions that have risen all over the Arab world including in Jordan and Turkey. Stay tuned!

Temple Mount

Yahoo News - Deadly stabbing, clashes as tensions rise over Jerusalem holy site
Yahoo News reports: "Three Israelis were stabbed to death and clashes left three Palestinians killed Friday as tensions rose over new security measures at a highly sensitive Jerusalem holy site where police restricted access for Muslim prayers. As Israeli and Palestinian leaders faced pressure to respond, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas announced late Friday he was freezing contacts with Israel over the holy site dispute. The unrest came after Israeli ministers decided not to order the removal of metal detectors erected at entrances to the Haram al-Sharif compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, following an attack nearby a week ago that killed two policemen."

Comment: So, after the attack last week Israel installed metal detectors. This makes sense right, most sensitive sites in the developed world now have security. Do you think that the local Arab population will take this in stride? No, they are rioting. Even though it was Palestinians who caused this problem and a security setup is sensible, they are reacting as if it is Israel that is causing the problem. Typical. But here is the bottom line for us, the Temple Mount is once again becoming a flashpoint and possible source of conflict that can draw in many countries into war with Israel (not because the leaders want to, but because their people want it) and it once again firmly links the Temple Mount (and possible future Temple) as an item that must be addressed in the Mideast peace talks (Covenant with Many).

Wickedness Increases

Florida teens laugh and record man as he drowns, police say - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A group of Florida teens saw a man drowning in a pond and laughed at him as they recorded his death instead of trying to help, police said. The video shows the drowning death of Jamel Dunn, 31, of Cocoa, Fla. [...] According to Florida Today, the teens did not report the drowning to authorities. Instead, Dunn's fiancee filed a missing person's report when Dunn didn't come home and then found the video of him drowning on social media. Authorities went to the pond depicted in the video and found Dunn's badly decomposed body three days after his death."

Comment: How cold and heartless do people have to be to do that kind of thing, to show such disregard for another human being? Love grows cold indeed.

Earthquake

6.7-magnitude earthquake kills 2, injures more than 100 in Greece and Turkey - UPI.com UPI reports: "A 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit popular tourist areas near several Greek islands and Turkey's Aegean coast, killing at least two people and injuring more than 100 others, according to reports. The U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake had a depth of at least 10 km."

War

U.S. report: Islamic State the biggest terror threat in 2016 - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Terrorism attacks are on the decline globally for the second year in a row, the State Department said in a report issued Wednesday. Terror attacks were down 9 percent in 2016 compared to the year before and deaths caused by terror attacks were down 13 percent, the report said. [...] Attacks happened in 104 countries in 2016, 55 percent of which happened in Iraq, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and the Philippines. Seventy-five percent of terror attack deaths happened in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Nigeria and Pakistan. The Islamic State was the top terror threat in 2016, the State Department said, while al-Qaida also remained a threat."

Comment: Some interesting stats on the global war on terrorism in 2016. I think the Islamic State death-spiral will probably continue to  motivate lone wolf attacks in Europe and elsewhere and will likely mean that 2017 will surpass 2016 in the number of terror attacks.

Covenant With Many

China's Xi pledges support to Palestine, two-state solution - UPI.com
UPI reports: "China supports a two-state solution in the Middle East and full sovereignty for Palestine, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced Tuesday. His remarks came as he met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Beijing. Abbas is on a four-day trip to China. China recognizes Palestine as a sovereign state, calling for Palestinian independence, with recognition of borders mandated in 1967 and a capital in East Jerusalem. The two leaders signed economic, technical, cultural and capacity-building cooperation agreements."

Comment: What is the leader of China doing getting mixed up in Middle East affairs, you ask? Over the last few years China has a emerged as a major trade partner for several Mideast countries, including Israel, with important trade relationships focused primarily on energy. China has also been building a modern version of the ancient "Silk Road" that will promote trade and development across the region. China, as unlikely as it seems, is on the way to becoming one of the important players in Mideast affairs. 

War

U.N.: Civilian deaths hit record high in Afghanistan - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Civilian deaths in Afghanistan reached a record high during the first six months this year, the United Nations said Monday. Between Jan. 1 and June 30, there 1,662 civilians killed -- a 2 percent increase above the previous record over the same time last year, according to the U.N. mid-year report. Also, 3,581 people were injured this year, a 1 percent decline from 2016."

Comment: If you have been wondering how the war in Afghanistan has been going, this report has some stats for you.

Temple Mount

Two police officers, three suspects killed in shooting at Jerusalem holy site - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Two police officers were shot and killed Friday as they patrolled the Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest site, in Jerusalem, Israeli authorities said. Three suspects, who allegedly opened fire at the officers, were themselves shot dead by police. [...] The entire 37-acre complex, visited by religious adherents and tourists, was closed Friday after the shootings."

Comment: After comments from Palestinian leaders denying a Jewish connection to the Temple Mount (the site of two past Jewish temples), is it any wonder that followers of a notorious religion would kill Jewish police officers on the sacred site? The amazing thing for us to note is how the Temple Mount remains a flash point, frozen in time between a dramatic past and an appointed future.

Persecution

AP - Fearing attacks, Egypt's churches suspend pilgrimages, trips
AP reports: "Egyptian churches on Thursday suspended pilgrimages, holidays and conferences for the remainder of July and August after authorities warned them about possible attacks by Islamic militants. [...] The militants have forced scores of Christian families to flee their homes in northern Sinai after killing several of them and have since December killed more than 100 people in four separate attacks targeting members of the ancient community. El-Sissi declared a nationwide state of emergency in April after suicide bombers targeted two churches north of Cairo. In May, militants killed about 30 Christians traveling on a back road as they approached a remote desert monastery south of Cairo."

Comment: These are dangerous times for Christians in Egypt. Please join me in praying for their safety and perseverance in faith.

Mark of the Beast

AP - Face scans for US citizens flying abroad stir privacy issues
The AP reports: "If the Trump administration gets its way, U.S. citizens boarding international flights will have to submit to a face scan, a plan privacy advocates call a step toward a surveillance state. The Department of Homeland Security says it’s the only way to successfully expand a program that tracks nonimmigrant foreigners. They have been required by law since 2004 to submit to biometric identity scans — but to date have only had their fingerprints and photos collected prior to entry. Now, DHS says it’s finally ready to implement face scans on departure — aimed mainly at better tracking visa overstays but also at tightening security. But, the agency says, U.S. citizens must also be scanned for the program to work. Privacy advocates say that oversteps Congress’ mandate."

Comment: It's been a while since we had a MOTB update. I'm not sure this really rises to the level of a good update. As you can see from the report, it's very tentative, part of me thinks "ok, let me know if they actually do require face scans" but the reality is that they probably will. Consumers have already demonstrated a willingness to surrender their privacy and their dignity in the name of travel safety, this is simply one more step. I suppose we should not be too alarmed, no doubt the biometric ID database will be well secured from hackers, right?  Finally, the usual caveat, I'm not saying that this or any other biometric tech is the MOTB, this is simply a tech trend worth keeping an eye on. 

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

China sends military personnel to base in Djibouti - UPI.com
UPI reports: "China is expanding its presence in East Africa with the addition of military personnel at its base in Djibouti. Beijing's state-owned news agency Xinhua reported Tuesday ships carrying Chinese troops left from a port in southern China. [...] The report also said the troops are to assist with 'escorting, peacekeeping and humanitarian aid in Africa and West Asia,' and the base would serve as a site of future joint exercises. The Chinese base in Djibouti is a significant investment, but Beijing has also built a large $590 million port near Djibouti City in the Gulf of Aden."

Comment: Impressive, I had no idea the new Silk Road would reach that far.  This means troops of the PLA may soon get some real-world experience to bolster their training. 

Wars & Rumors of War

Iraq officially declares Mosul's liberation from Islamic State - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Mosul has been totally liberated from control by the Islamic State, Iraq's prime minister declared Monday. [...] The battle for Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq, has taken almost nine months as thousands of civilians died and more than 920,000 others were displaced. U.S.-led airstrikes helped the coalition take over Mosul."

Comment: This is no doubt an historic victory for Iraq and it's good that the U.S.-led coalition is letting the Iraqi forces take a victory lap as they did the bulk of the fighting and dying. I'm hoping those remaining pockets of resistance can be quickly mopped up and then the battle can be taken to Raqqa in Syria. The Islamic State as a idea and ideology may never completely go away, but it can certainly be denied territory and the liberation of Mosul has demonstrated that to all.

Pestilence

Yemen cholera outbreak passes 300,000 cases - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The cholera outbreak in Yemen is spiraling out of control with more than 300,000 cases of the disease in the past 10 weeks, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The ICRC is reporting roughly 7,000 new cases every day and more than 1,700 deaths linked to the cholera outbreak, according to the United Nations. Cholera is an infection of the small intestine by the Vibrio cholerae bacteria, which is found in seawater and other non-fresh water sources. The disease causes severe diarrhea, which can be deadly because it quickly dehydrates patients and leads to substantial electrolyte imbalance."

Rumors of War

United States to conduct test of THAAD missile defense system - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The U.S. Department Department Missile Defense Agency announced plans to conduct a new test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system. Missile Defense Agency spokesman Chris Johnson said an exact date for the THAAD test will not be disclosed, but is expected some time in the coming days. The weapon system, housed at the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska in Kodiak, Alaska, is part of the United States' missile defense system designed to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles during flight."

Comment: I wish them the best of luck with the upcoming test. This is a great time to demonstrate to friends and enemies that the U.S. has the capability to knock out incoming missiles. 

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

Trump, Moon, Abe express support for added pressure on North Korea - UPI.com
UPI reports: "U.S. President Donald Trump and the leaders of Japan and South Korea took a united stand against the Kim Jong Un regime before the G20 summit in Hamburg. Trump, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed on Thursday to increase pressure on North Korea, South Korean news service News 1 reported. There may have also been suggestions from Trump that new economic sanctions should target firms doing business with North Korea, according to The Korea Times."

China must take stronger role in solving North Korean problem, scholars say - UPI.com UPI reports: "U.S. scholars Thursday urged China to take decisive action on the growing threat from North Korea after Pyongyang's successful launch this week of an intercontinental ballistic missile. While China is tightening up economic relations with North Korea, Chinese leaders would have to go much further to satisfy U.S. concerns, said Bonnie Glaser, senior advisor for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. [...] A report issued by CSIS at the meeting said that Beijing clearly prefers regime stability to denuclearization of North Korea, and is therefore purposefully opting not to apply maximum pressure by implementing the fullest possible sanctions."

Comment: I'm skeptical that the G20 Summit will lead to any breakthroughs on North Korea but it's nice to see a consensus emerge that China should do more but probably won't. What's next? I expect the U.S. and allies to push for more trade sanctions, which will either anger China or force them to change their approach.  My money is on anger and inaction.

Roaring Waves

New data shows extreme coastal sea levels more likely - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Researchers at the University of Central Florida are using newly available data and advanced modeling techniques to improve predictions of extreme sea levels. The study, published July 7 in Nature Communications, suggests extreme sea levels will occur more frequently than previously predicted in the west coast regions of the United States and in large portions of Australia and Europe. Extreme sea levels are caused by a combination of high tides, storm surges and waves."

Comment: If you have coastal property, now is a good time to sell. 

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

AP - Pre-emptive US strike on North Korea could be 'catastrophic'
The AP reports: "A pre-emptive military strike may be among the 'pretty severe things' President Donald Trump says he is considering for North Korea, but it’s a step so fraught with risk that it ranks as among the unlikeliest options. Even a so-called surgical strike aimed at the North’s partially hidden nuclear and missile force is unlikely to destroy the arsenal or stop its leader, Kim Jong Un, from swiftly retaliating with long-range artillery that could kill stunning numbers in South Korea within minutes."

Comment: This report does a good job of explaining why the "military option" is not really a viable solution to the problem of North Korea's nuclear program.  This is why North Korea is such a conundrum. There really are no easy answers. A casual observer may believe that Clinton, Bush and Obama did nothing about it. The truth is, they did, they tried every lever of great power persuasion available, including diplomacy, economic sanctions and an unknown number of covert actions. There are very few substantive options remaining except for military power and every informed observer will tell you that the military option will lead to disaster. Please join me in praying for President Trump and his advisors and they consider the way forward, that they will have wisdom, insight and a keen sense of strategy.

Earthquakes

6.5-magnitude quake kills 2, injures 100 in central Philippines - UPI.com
UPI reports: "At least two people died Thursday after a 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines, seismologists and authorities said. The quake struck Leyte Island on Thursday morning at a depth of just 4 miles, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The quake was triggered by movement along the Philippine Fault. Two people were reported dead, along with more than 100 injured."

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

U.S., South Korea conduct ballistic missile drill following provocation - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The United States and South Korea conducted a ballistic missile drill, following the launch of what North Korea has claimed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile on the Fourth of July. The allies launched the South Korea-developed Hyunmoo-2 missile into the East Sea, known as the Sea of Japan, News 1 reported."

Comment: This situation is scary because there are no easy answers and because the U.S. government seems unable to read the terrain. For example, why does Trump keep insisting that China help solve the problem? Does he not understand the strategic role that North Korea plays for China? I sincerely hope that Trump rises to the occasion but my fear is that a man who understands "the art of the deal" in real estate is little prepared to make deals with people who are not buying, who are not even in the same market. I also draw comfort from the fact that Trump has surrounded himself with some very capable and experienced advisors who understand international and military affairs far more than he does and if he can listen to them then perhaps we can hope for good outcomes during his upcoming meetings with world leaders. 

Wickedness Increases

New York City police officer Miosotis Familia shot, killed - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A New York City police officer died after she was shot in the face by an attacker who was then located and shot to death, police said Wednesday. Miosotis Familia, 48, a 12-year NYPD veteran, was shot as she sat with her partner in a patrol car in the Bronx early Wednesday. NYPD Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill said the suspect fired through the window of the patrol car and then fled. Familia was taken to a hospital, where she died."

Famine

Famine must receive more of the world’s attention - CSMonitor.com
The Christian Science Monitor reports: "That famine could ravage millions of people in the 21st century seems unthinkable. But somehow the same world that is agog at driverless cars and looming trips to Mars is experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis in seven decades. As many as 20 million people face the threat of starvation in South Sudan, northeast Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen, according to the United Nations. When the UN declares a famine, it isn’t saying that a crisis looms on the horizon: It means that very bad things are already happening, that many people have already died."

Comment: How unfortunate that this story is not receiving the press coverage that it should. If only famine victims had Twitter accounts, perhaps then their plight would be more newsworthy.